For most people, their home is their single largest asset, and it makes sense to protect it. That’s why we invest so much of our time and resource into maintenance because prevention is always better (and less expensive) than the cure. This is especially true when it comes to your home plumbing, but emergency situations can still occur. When most people think about a plumbing emergency, a burst pipe is probably the first thing that they imagine. In this article, we will look at five tips to help you deal with a burst pipe in your home.
When you have a burst pipe, it’s easy to become agitated, and many people succumb to panic. This is natural, but the only thing that you really need to remember is that you must shut-off the water supply first. Anything else is secondary and can be carried out in a more methodical manner later. Stop the water from coming into your home, and everything else will be much easier.
2. Be Prepared
Following on from our first tip, it’s vital that you locate the shut-off valve for your home. The last thing that you need is to frantically search for the valve when you need to shut the water off quickly. When you’ve learned where the valve is located, make sure everyone in the home knows that information and how to shut the valve off.
3. Call a Professional Plumber
In recent years more people have become interested in DIY, this is a great hobby, and you can save a lot of money on home projects and remodeling. But, when it comes to home plumbing, it’s a better idea to call a professional for a burst pipe. Changing the washer in a leaky tap is fine, but dealing with cracked, corroded, or burst pipes is a job for a professional.
4. Time is of the Essence
One of the worst things about a burst pipe is that it can cause a lot of damage to your home in a short space of time. Water damage is expensive to fix, and if you have an obvious burst pipe, it’s important to get the water shut-off quickly to mitigate the damage. Clearing up can begin before the plumber arrives. Mop the water up and use old towels to soak up as much as you can. Open up the windows to improve ventilation and get the area as dry as possible.
5. Consider an Inspection
Most of us don’t pay much attention to our plumbing systems until something goes wrong. But, if you take a proactive approach, you can head many problems off at the pass before a burst pipe even occurs. Talk to your local plumber about a home plumbing inspection to learn more about the conditions of your fixtures and pipes. In many cases, pipes in bad shape can be replaced, or you may want to invest in upgraded plumbing pipes.
If you want to arrange a home plumbing inspection or you have a burst pipe, contact your local certified plumber today.
By Giovanni Longo President Flood Brothers PlumbingGiovanni Longo is a 3rd generation master plumber who has been practicing his craft and trade in the greater Los Angeles area for well over a decade and a half. A plumbing and hydraulics-engineering innovator, Giovanni's particular world-class expertise focuses on dealing with challenging sewer system designs as well as resolving complex commercial and residential draining issues. As a certified Flood Mitigation expert, he is also well versed in a wide variety of water damage and remediation solution.